Topic
Healthcare
895 speeches · 200 speakers
Party share
By the speaker's party · counts only, no scoring. "Unattributed" = speeches not resolved to an MP.
Most active on this topic
| # | Member | Speeches |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa, M.P. JJB | 185 |
| 2 | Hon. (Dr.) Hansaka Wijemuni, M.P. JJB | 62 |
| 3 | Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna, M.P. Independent Group 17 - Jaffna | 50 |
| 4 | Hon. Sajith Premadasa, M.P. SJB | 25 |
| 5 | Hon. (Dr.) Nishantha Samaraweera, M.P. JJB | 18 |
| 6 | Hon. Thurairasa Ravikaran, M.P. ITAK | 17 |
| 7 | Hon. (Mrs.) Chamindranee Kiriella, Attorney at Law, M.P. SJB | 17 |
| 8 | Hon. (Dr.) Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana, M.P. SJB | 14 |
| 9 | Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka, M.P. SJB | 13 |
| 10 | Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna, M.P. SJB | 13 |
Speeches
895 on this topic- 6 February 2025 The Hon. Asoka Sapumal Ranwala JJB AI summary Lime is not inherently a carcinogenic or heavy-metal-bearing substance and is used in water purification. Any elevated heavy metal content would result from contamination during the production chain rather than from lime’s natural composition or its use as a chemical reagent. Debate: Intellectual Property Act Regulations (Geographical Indications) Read →
- 6 February 2025 The Hon. D.V. Chanaka SLPP AI summary D.V. Chanaka pressed for a response from Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe regarding a report alleging carcinogens and harmful heavy metals in the country’s tap water. He urged that the matter not be treated lightly, stressing the public health risk and indicating he would wait for the Minister’s answer. Debate: Intellectual Property Act Regulations (Geographical Indications) Read →
- 6 February 2025 The Hon. D.V. Chanaka SLPP AI summary Hon. D.V. Chanaka alleged that 27 containers of imported hydrated lime for water treatment had chromium levels of 14 mg/kg, exceeding the permitted 10 mg/kg standard, despite required pre-shipment and local testing protocols. He said the material had been sent to the Ratmalana, Galle, and Ambatale water treatment plants and claimed the National Water Supply and Drainage Board had sought to relax the relevant standard instead of re-exporting the shipment. He tabled laboratory reports and called on Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe to investigate, re-export the containers, and disclose who benefited from the transaction. Debate: Intellectual Property Act Regulations (Geographical Indications) Read →
- 6 February 2025 The Hon. Nalinda Jayatissa JJB AI summary Nalinda Jayatissa said Sri Lanka requires 2,800 medical specialists under the 2018 approved cadre but currently has about 2,000 in service. He argued that specialist migration was due to multiple factors, including unmet benefits, political instability and lost expectations, not only vehicle permits. He stated that the Government is engaging with specialist associations and the Ministry of Finance to provide feasible relief, retain existing specialists, and encourage those who left the country to return. Oral Question: Sri Lanka National Hospital Procurement (Q.7/2024) Read →
- 6 February 2025 The Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha SJB AI summary Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha raised concerns about the shortage of specialist doctors, noting that only about 1,900 of an estimated 3,000 required posts are filled, with many serving in peripheral and remote districts. He asked the Minister whether specialists could be provided fuel, transport allowances, or vehicles comparable to benefits given to similar grades under Public Administration Circular 22/99, given that vehicle permits are not currently useful. Oral Question: Sri Lanka National Hospital Procurement (Q.7/2024) Read →
- 5 February 2025 Written Answers to Questions AI summary In response to a question by Rauff Hakeem on COVID-19 burials at Majma Nagar, Batticaloa, the Minister of Health stated that 3,634 COVID-19-infected bodies were buried, comprising 1,409 females and 2,225 males. By religion, the burials included 2,992 Muslims, 287 Buddhists, 270 Hindus and 85 Catholics. The Minister said further details such as names, addresses, registration numbers, burial dates, attendees and any fees charged were not held by or within the scope of the Ministry, as its data collection focused on epidemic control. Closing: Parliament Adjournment and Written Answers Read →
- 5 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayathissa - Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip JJB AI summary The Minister thanked Members for raising health-sector issues and said further responses would be provided during the Budget Committee Stage. He addressed concerns at Karapitiya National Hospital, stating that the cardiac catheterization issue should be resolved within 10 days, while procurement for a second cath lab machine requires retendering due to a supplier and cost discrepancy. He said the Government would expedite the transfer of 42 estate hospitals to the Central Government and had submitted a Cabinet paper to regularize about 600 dengue assistants. He also announced planned recruitments in the coming weeks and months, including nurses, PHIs/family health officers, pharmacists, radiographers and other technical staff, while noting that shortages of specialist doctors remain difficult to resolve immediately. Adjournment Debate: Monaragala Health Sector Issues Read →
- 5 February 2025 The Hon. Mohamed Sali Naleem AI summary Hon. Mohamed Sali Naleem highlighted improvements in cardiac care for patients in the Batticaloa District, noting that free treatment had begun at Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Hospital in June 2023 and had reduced the need for patients to travel to Jaffna for angiograms. He thanked the doctors, administrators, organizers, and donors involved, including Sri Sathguru Srimadhasan, Mrs. Bennie Jayewardene, and the Batticaloa Teaching Hospital cardiac team, and noted that children were also being sent to India for free open-heart surgeries. He stated that free open-heart surgeries were expected to commence locally in addition to angiograms and stent placements, and appealed to the Minister of Health to address health needs and issues in Eravur. Adjournment Debate: Monaragala Health Sector Issues Read →
- 5 February 2025 The Hon. Mohamed Sali Naleem AI summary Hon. Mohamed Sali Naleem urged the Minister of Health to address healthcare deficiencies in Batticaloa, particularly at Eravur Base Hospital, including the need for funds to operate a Chinese-funded three-storey building, a 160 kVA generator, medical consultants, medical officers, Public Health Midwives, and other staff. He requested the release of nearby railway land to expand the hospital, upgrading of the Meerakerni-Iyankerny-Michenagar rural dispensary with ward and 24-hour facilities, and establishment of a State Pharmaceutical Corporation pharmacy branch in Eravur. He also sought equipment, generator, vehicle and infrastructure support for the Eravur Ayurvedic hospital, and recorded appreciation for the charitable work of Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Hospital in Kiran. Adjournment Debate: Monaragala Health Sector Issues Read →
- 5 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Madhura Senevirathna - Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister argued that Sri Lanka’s health system requires continuous and effective management, not ad hoc responses, because failures in management have contributed to its gradual deterioration over many years. He said the problems predate the current administration and stressed that proper implementation of existing laws, particularly the PMIR Act, is necessary to regulate private hospitals and medical institutions according to quality standards. Adjournment Debate: Monaragala Health Sector Issues Read →
- 5 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna said Chavakachcheri Hospital received attention and consultant appointments only after his protest, removal from his post, and subsequent legal cases, and warned that transferring the newly appointed consultants would harm the hospital. He alleged misappropriation of Rs. 200 million from a 2014 allocation to Vavuniya Hospital by a current MP and questioned whether the Ministry would take action. He also called for inquiries into funds allegedly received by Dr. Sathyamoorthy from overseas welfare societies and stated that Tamil speakers respect Buddhism. Adjournment Debate: Monaragala Health Sector Issues Read →
- 5 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna Independent Group 17 - Jaffna AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna raised allegations of medical negligence and lack of accountability in Northern hospitals, citing deaths in Mannar and Kilinochchi and asking why the Health Ministry had not questioned staff involved. He called for investigation and arrest of Dr. R. Sathyamoorthy over alleged irregularities at Jaffna Teaching Hospital, past statements about wartime killings, qualifications, and fundraising for an eye hospital. He also referred to wartime disappearances of hospital patients, the transfer of a doctor from Chavakachcheri, and stressed that his criticisms were not communal, citing his opposition to demolishing the Thaiyiddy Vihara. Adjournment Debate: Monaragala Health Sector Issues Read →
- 5 February 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna SJB AI summary Hon. Rohini Kumari Wijerathna highlighted shortages of consultants, nurses, medicines, equipment and services in the health sector, citing needs at Matale, Laggala, Hettipola and estate hospitals, and requested staffing, completion of the CKD facility and attention to orthopaedic equipment. She questioned the Minister on pharmaceutical procurement reforms, action against past fraud, data manipulation and substandard drugs, and raised concerns about long angiogram waiting lists and the need to regulate private hospital surgery charges. She also called for regularizing Dengue Brigade workers, strengthening dengue control, and presenting biannual nutrition reports to Parliament in response to reported child malnutrition and rising food costs. Adjournment Debate: Monaragala Health Sector Issues Read →
- 5 February 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Pushpa Kumara JJB AI summary Hon. Wasantha Pushpa Kumara argued that longstanding failures in health policy had left hospitals with inadequate infrastructure, staffing shortages, and poor retention of specialists and other health workers. He said the Government is expanding cardiac and cancer treatment capacity through new cath labs and ADB-funded linear accelerators, and cited severe specialist shortages in several Ratnapura District hospitals. He stated that relief measures such as raising the PAYE threshold, increasing allowances, updating outdated cadre requirements, and recruiting trained allied health personnel are intended to improve the health service in line with the Government’s policy declaration. Adjournment Debate: Monaragala Health Sector Issues Read →
- 5 February 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Pushpa Kumara JJB AI summary Hon. Wasantha Pushpa Kumara linked the debate to the principle that health is a fundamental right under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and said this underpins Sri Lanka’s health policy. He challenged an Opposition claim that state funds had not been misused by citing a 2018 Daily FT report that Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara had admitted in Parliament to receiving a Rs. 1 million cheque from a Perpetual Group-linked company. Adjournment Debate: Monaragala Health Sector Issues Read →
- 5 February 2025 The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka SJB AI summary Gayantha Karunathilleka raised urgent concerns about Karapitiya National Hospital in Galle, noting its role as a major Southern Province referral centre serving large daily patient numbers from several districts. He said the hospital’s angiography machine had been out of service since 5 December due to an unreplaced tube, causing delays for cardiac patients and forcing some to seek costly private care, and asked the Minister to expedite repairs and review the earlier procurement of an additional machine. He also highlighted that only three of the hospital’s 11 ambulances were operational and called for procedural delays in repairs to be addressed while maintaining safeguards against corruption. Adjournment Debate: Monaragala Health Sector Issues Read →
- 5 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Sandaruwan Madarasinghe JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Sandaruwan Madarasinghe argued that Sri Lanka’s free public health system has been underfunded and poorly planned by previous governments, citing stagnant health expenditure as a share of GDP, unfinished facilities at Tangalle Hospital, long queues, and severe staff shortages caused by migration and attrition. He referred to the alleged counterfeit rituximab scandal and the no-confidence motion against former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, naming MPs who supported him. He said the Government intends to increase health funding in the forthcoming Budget, recruit about 10,000 trained health workers, invite specialists and doctors to return, and implement a medicine price-control mechanism after Attorney General review. Adjournment Debate: Monaragala Health Sector Issues Read →
- 5 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam ITAK AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam highlighted acute health staffing shortages in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, linking them to post-war service demands, and requested action within the year to ease shortages. He welcomed the Health Ministry’s 2025 hospital management manual for Divisional Hospitals and PMCUs and asked that similar guidance be issued for all hospital levels, while also calling for SPC branches in every district amid drug shortages. He further requested tax concessions for imported Siddha medicines, funds to complete the stalled Vavuniya Accident and Emergency Unit, appointment of trained pharmacists in government facilities, and special attention to deficiencies at Thirukkovil Hospital and Mullaitivu District General Hospital. Adjournment Debate: Monaragala Health Sector Issues Read →
- 5 February 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa JJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa stated that the company involved in supplying chlorhexidine mouthwash was not blacklisted, but a previous supply default had been identified by the SPC, leading to cancellation of the tender and referral to the Technical Evaluation Committee to award it to the second lowest bidder. He said the SPC Chairman had complained to the CID regarding possible improper media conduct, and that an inquiry was ongoing. He also said the Public Service Commission had ordered the interdiction and inquiry of a doctor for allegedly violating the Establishments Code by campaigning for the SJB without resigning from a senior public service post. Adjournment Debate: Monaragala Health Sector Issues Read →
- 5 February 2025 The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law SJB AI summary Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara raised concerns about the health sector, citing the absence of a proper national plan for hospital equipment and staffing across different levels of hospitals. He called for a committee and early action on patient safety and well-being regulations, and proposed integrating the Medical Supplies Division, NMRA, SPC and SPMC to improve medicine regulation, referring to a disputed mouthwash tender involving a previously surcharged supplier. He also requested a replacement phaco machine for Kuliyapitiya Hospital due to a cataract surgery backlog, and urged amendments to Ayurveda legislation to protect traditional medical practitioners alongside Ayurveda and Unani systems. Adjournment Debate: Monaragala Health Sector Issues Read →